Subcontractors asked to join rice project<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto yesterday encouraged local
\nsubcontractors to get involved in the establishment of the one-
\nmillion-hectare rice estate project in Central Kalimantan's peat-
\nmoss areas.<\/p>\n
Soeharto made his remarks during a meeting yesterday with
\nState Minister of National Development Planning (Bappenas)
\nGinandjar Kartasasmita, Minister of Public Works Radinal Moochtar
\nand Minister of Agriculture Sjarifudin Baharsjah at the Bina
\nGraha office here.<\/p>\n
Radinal told reporters after the meeting that the signing of
\nthe contract for the construction of the project's primary drains
\nwas conducted earlier this month.<\/p>\n
The primary waterworks will be built by PT Sumatra Timur
\nIndonesia, a subsidiary of PT Sambu, which had extensive
\nexperience in converting peat-moss areas into plantations in
\nRiau, he said.<\/p>\n
Radinal said the secondary drains will be constructed by
\nstate-owned PT Pembangunan Perumahan and PT Widjaja Karya.<\/p>\n
From the one million hectares of peat-moss area, some 600,000
\nhectares will be converted into rice estates. The giant project
\nwill cost over $217 million, which will be taken from the
\ninterest on reforestation funds.<\/p>\n
Radinal explained that the conversion of the peat-moss areas
\nwould be carried out in several phases. Two areas, measuring
\n10,000 hectares each, have been converted into demonstration
\nplots for rice farming so far.<\/p>\n
\"We are presently preparing farmers for work on this project.
\nThe government expects them to work on the fields, and not only
\nto ask for the land,\" Radinal said.<\/p>\n
The giant project is part of the government's masterplan to
\nregain self-sufficiency in rice.<\/p>\n
Indonesia used to be the biggest rice importer in the world,
\nbut became self-sufficient in 1984. Rice exports exceeded imports
\nuntil 1993, but the country has had to rely partly on imports
\nsince then.<\/p>\n
Last year, rice production fell to its lowest level in 15
\nyears with 46.6 million tons from 48.2 million tons in 1993. The
\ndecline was caused by unfavorable weather and plant diseases.
\n(pwn)<\/p>",
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